Kissing Spine

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Parkranger

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Have any of you experience of this? If a horse had mild kissing spine and had been treated, would it be able to go back into normal work if treated carefully?

Really don't have alot of knowledge of the condition so would be interested to hear what people think.

Thanks
 
Taz was diagnosed with this after I sold him, but I don't totally buy it...

I think in some cases it can be cured, and there are things you can do, but they can be quite expensive. Sorry not much help really, I have to say I don't know a lot about it either.
 
Christmas_Derby's Owen looks to be doing pretty well, worth speaking to her
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Thanks Lizzie! Yes Owen had KS surgery ( chestnut in my sig) he has been fantastic ever since completly 'normal'

Do think that the only way to treat KS is through surgery though. The other treatments for KS (cortisone and shockwave therapy) do not work in the long term.
 
My ned doing well after surgery, palliative route can work but didn't for my ned, think is usual vet recommended option for older horses with mild cases where correct work can support area, although I am pretty much of the same opinion as Xmas Derby surgery is the only real cure. Best way to tell if palliative route works (i.e., steriods etc) is the work program, I spent 6 mth long reining in an outline and his back still deteriorated, if you go this route you must keep the horse fit and correctly muscled which I found very tiring, used to panic if going away for the weekend and he wouldn't be worked for 2 or 3 days!!! Lots of info on the vet site and many success stories which make uplifting reading!
 
Thanks for all the advice. The horse in question only had 2 vertabrae out (but I guess that's all it takes) and was not in major discomfort - I don't think the horse has had surgery but has just been brought back into work.

Would be ridden every day (one day off) so I don't think keeping it fit would be too much of a problem.

Oh well, I'll go and have a look and see.
 
If you are looking to buy this horse I would go with the view that you may have to pay for an operation in the future and you won't get any insurance to cover it.
 
Horse is for loan and 7 years old - from what I can tell they've treated it with physio and injections but I get to meet the owner and ride her in the week.

Just popped up to meet the horse and she's gorge - unfit and fat but very sweet so hopefully we'll click in the saddle.

TBH I don't mind bringing her back into work as it's a good way to get to know a horse.
 
If you are selling Ty because he is unable to jump then is a horse who needs to be brought back into work following kissing spine treatment really the greatest idea?
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Sorry if that sounds a bit negative but seems a bit like 'out of the frying pan into the fire'?
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[ QUOTE ]
If you are selling Ty because he is unable to jump then is a horse who needs to be brought back into work following kissing spine treatment really the greatest idea?
confused.gif


Sorry if that sounds a bit negative but seems a bit like 'out of the frying pan into the fire'?
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[/ QUOTE ]

Completely valid point and something that I'm considering very carefully.

I'm looking at loaning a second horse now so that I can afford to keep Ty on aswell - I just feel that to put him out on loan now when he has to have time for his hocks to fuse is not fair on him or his loaner.

The mare was jumping quite happily before it was diagnosed and working towards affiliated dressage. I do have major doubts but until I ride her and find more out I didn't want to poo poo the idea completely.
 
I have quite a lot of experience of KS having had two horses with it, each in a different area of the spine and each showing different symptoms. One had surgery, the other I've just (today) put out on loan for hacking, as the extensive (and expensive - thank god for NFU) treatment with Tildren and then cortisone has made no difference whatsoever. Personally I would not touch anything with this condition, and have even said that when I buy my next horse I will have its spine x-rayed prior to purchase. It's a heartbreaking condition which causes considerable pain to what, in my case, were very genuine horses. If you do decide to go ahead, I would recommend that you have Kay Humphries fit a saddle for it, she is brilliant and has huge experience of saddling horses with this kind of condition. She has adapted my boys saddle for him so that he is comfortable enough to enjoy his new career as a hack. Good luck!
 
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